FHBC Sermon Notes

This chapter opens with the battle of Jericho. So I shall subtitle this "Raise the shout, let the walls fall down!"

Joshua 6

Perhaps the song "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho", should be sung as "Yahweh fought the battle of Jericho!". This battle as in all things isn't a thing for mans glory, but instead is the opportunity for God to demonstrate his own glory. This chapter to should bring us to a place where we are overwhelmed by the awesomeness of God. It is something we must respond to.

Four ways in which God displays his glory in the Battle of Jericho

1. God displays His awesome power.

This has been a key theme in book of Joshua. The people have witnessed his power afresh: parting the Jordan river, their enemies lose heart completely, as here again as in 6:1, and ultimately the destruction of the wall and the defeat of the people.

In verse 2, even before the battle has been fought, God declared in firm relief what will happen. Before a single attack has been made God uses past tense to declare what has already been done.

God gives them them a surprising battle plan. More a worship service than a battle plan. We might wonder what Joshua must have thought of this "plan". A plan so crazy militarily that if it worked only God could get the glory.

The ark of the covenant here signifies that the presence of God was present in and amongst the people. God was present to fight.

The term shout here is interesting for it meant both a military shout, but also it issued in the psalms as a shout of praise to God. Perhaps this is the call we need to follow, that in the face of our enemies, in the face of adversity, that we should also raise the shout of raise to God. The victory has already been won!

Psalm 20:7-8 - 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

2. God displays his enduring faithfulness.

Here God in is covenant with Israel is demonstrating is faithfulness to his promises. For this reason I wonder if this is not why God chose to have a people to himself, which of course means that others are not his people. To demonstrate faithfulness, one must have a promise to show faithfulness, to the exclusion of something.

And so, our relationship stands on his promises, not our worth and works. We are adopted and transformed in this to be transformed into the image of Jesus. We so show our devotion to him in our love and devotion to him.

Romans 12

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3. God displays his righteous justice.

All the people and animals were killed. This seems hard to mind, but God must judge sin. We are all condemned to death in our rebellion and sin. We might say, that sounds harsh, but sin is a serious thing. This passage is a warning to us of all that is to come if we just give ourselves over to sin. Just like the passage we read today (Revelation 19:11-12), Christ comes with a crimson robe stained with the blood of is enemies. We will be judged, but the good news is this... That blood, that price as already been paid in the blood of Jesus.

We cannot run away from God and hide in our cities like the people of Jericho. The only way we can survive is to run to the cross, and be hidden in the blood of our savior.

4. God displays his tender mercy.

In this passage there was a remnant to be saved. The household of Rahab. We all are judged and condemned to the fate of Jericho, but God has shown us mercy, yes, even more, grace! His son has taken our mistakes, has died and shed blood for us, not that we may remain the same, but that we may be reborn, anew, fresh.

No battle displayed, no trumpet or singing skills. No only God greatness is on displayed in this passage. Let us praise our God for his greatness, his power, his mercy, his grace!